Why the blog?

Keeping a record of sober days this month is really helpful for me, as are the comments. Every day, I come to the blog and write something, however brief. I have kept this blog for a long time now, and it has fluctuated over the years from confessional, to panic, to gratitude. At the moment, I see it as a kind of haven. A couple of people have commented that I sound different this time round. I think this may be my being a bit quieter this month, trying not to dwell so much on what I’m doing, but rather just trying to do it.

I have nearly finished Clare Pooley’s book. It’s so good. I’m then going to go back and read Caroline Knapp’s book. I have to do a lot of reading (poetry and fiction) for work, and I have found reading generally to be therapeutic this month. Every day, I read for ages, if I can.

I’m not going out or doing anything social (in the party sense), although I do go to work of course, and play in the orchestra, and both those things are hugely convivial. But no alcohol is involved, and I am finding a new pleasure in that. I cannot envisage going to a party though – not at the moment. And I would not set foot inside a pub.